The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-09-16
EQuALIzATIoN

act providing for the appointment
OF u Board of Equalizers in eacl
county to act in conjunction will
the Board OF Supervisors IN equal
izing taxes. They ERE appointed
by the Board of Supervisors, one
from each beat TO he IA Taxpayer
and real estate owner 10 meet viii
the Board at its August term. They
were paid % each per day aud
ceuts per mile travelled Ia attending
such meeting. Two yaarS' expert
ence proved that the beat equalizer
was no good and that act waS
promptly wiped out by the Legisla.
ture of 1884.
Gov. Lowry, in his message to the
Legislature OF 1886, said: sour
revenue law demands your earnest
attention, with Il view to deTise, il
possible, some means By which the
Irregularities existing in the assess
mentStor taxation may be remedied.
There is not only great want of uni.
formity in the assessed value OF
property in counties, but in the diff.
fereBt counties of the State as CON.
pared with each other.S He then
gives as examples of the want OF
uniformity several counties whose
average values on lands largely
differ. Again in his speech at
Vicksburg recently the Governor
suggested that critics of his admin.
istration suggest some remedy tor
this evil, and thereby be OF some
benefit to the State.
We have thought OF a plan for
equaliziug assessments, but we will
assure the Governor that we will
never suggest or approve any such
plan as shall have for its ultimate
object the placing of a uniform
valuation on all the lands of the
State, TO the extent of making the
average values in each county
equal. We would never take the
difference III the average valuation
OF one county as compared With all
the rest rs a criterion of unequali.
ty, at all. Hence, we conclude from
the Governors view of the evil he
is entirely unfit tor the task OF pro-
Yiding a remedy therefor. There
are a great many conditions Which
make a difference in land values,
such as nature of soil, improve.
mentS, etc. Still, it is true that
there is considerable inequality 10
assessed valuations of land as be.
tween counties. But still we believe
the greatest evil to he remedied is
to be found within counties and
communities.
Now for our plan: We suggest
that Boards of Equaizers be made
up by dividing the counties up into
groups or districts, having reference
to the kindred nature of soils, i'm.
provemeuts, populations aud such
other matters as effect land values.
Have the Governor appoint, by re.
COMMUNICATION of the Sheriff, CLERK
or Clerks aud Assessor OF each
county, one intelligent aud Capable
man in each county: who shall be a
member of a District Board of
Equalizers. Make it the duty OF
Board to meet at least once a
rear in each county for the purpose
eq~ualizing assessments within
be respective counties, aud as be-
ween the counties of the group.
each member of this Board a
espectable salary aud require him !
o inform himself 10 regard to the
assessments of his county and sum.
hons before the District Board such
illnesses as may be necessary.
here might also be appointed one -,
Iember at large from each district
no should preside over the DELHI .
ratiOns of the Board, aud by virtue !,
{ such Office be u member of a :
tate Board OF Equalizers to meet
the Capitol once every two years
equalize tor the State at large by 8
concentrations to the District @
[
Such is the ontline of our plan.
has the appearance Of being a
Their expensive one, but we be-
,ve 1t would prove economical as :
impaired with the present system :
any other that has been tried .
ID accomplish what none OF them
u eve do-nniformity Of valua
pms as between the different couu-
Is Of something like approximate &
equal land values.
We would also suggest The pas a
.ge of an act making it perjury to Q
IlfuIIy and knowingly subscribe